I’ve listen and read a lot of the tributes pouring around
this great man, Nelson Mandela. But it interests me to note that none of the
speakers or writers ever mentioned his religion or how rich he was financially,
how many mansions he owned or how large his business empire is. It didn’t
matter this time around. But I thought these were the criteria for ranking
great men in the world. Yet their tributes were all centered on his leadership
qualities and the nature of his heart.
Madiba had a heart of gold, a heart to forgive and the will
to reconcile with all men during his life time.
One thing that cut my attention and I guess, the attention
of many around the world, was how Mandela invited and had a lavish lunch with
his vindictive prosecutor, Percy Yutar, who put him in jail for 27 years. That
really touched my heart. I guess it would have been more natural that Mandela
invites him for a punch rather than a lunch. But no! Madiba was different. He
was of the God kind. He would rather demonstrate a great heart of
sportsmanship.
It is the virtue most sports were meant to add to our characters.
For instance, at the end of a football game, players shake hands and exchange
shirts, forgetting all the hard knocks and tackles during hostility. It is the
spirit of sportsmanship, the ability to submit one self and to forgive one
another irrespective of physical and emotional injuries sustained during the
encounter.
I used this illustration because I know Mandela was a great
lover of the beautiful game, football. And I strongly believe that he may have
played the game one time in his aces days. Mandela was instrumental to South
Africa winning the host and successfully hosting FIFA world cup in 2010. That
was the first and only time an African country ever hosted the mundial.
Recently, every year, a commemorative friendly football
match tagged ‘The Mandela Challenge’ was hosted in South Africa to mark his
birthday. You may recall that Super Eagles of Nigeria won the last edition; the
95th birthday and indeed, his last birthday alive.
Mandela is a football hero of a kind. No wonder many
football stars continue to swamp twitter with tributes. Cristano Ronaldo tweet,
“Thank you Madiba for your legacy and example. You’ll always stay with us.”
Didier Drogba and Ebue tributes on their inner vests nearly got them
into trouble at their clubs. However, FIFA President, Sepp Blatter and many
football big wings and clubs have been sending their own tributes too.
It’s so remarkable that the life of Mandela was a journey of
a true sportsman, in character and in physical fitness. Madiba was full of life,
even at 95; he was still ready to push on. Today, he remain our role model! He represents equality of the human race and true freedom. Not only did he fought and
conquered the apartheid regime, but he was able to reconcile all parties. He
was a noble prize winner and the first black president of South Africa. Though,
he may have passed on to the great beyond, but he still live in our Hearts.
ADIEU MADIBA!
